Gentianacea.

GENTIANA PURPUREA.

PURPLE GENTIAN.

Class V. PENTANDRIA. Order II. DIGYNIA.

Gen. Char. Corolla, monopetalous. Capsules, superior, two-valved, one-celled, with two longitudinal receptacles.

Spe. Char. Corolla, five-cleft, rotate, virticillate. Calyx, spathace

ous.

The root is perennial, cylindrical, slender, branched, externally brown, or dark, and internally of a pale yellowish color; the stem is erect, simple, smooth, strong, succulent, and rises from twelve to eighteen inches in height; the lower leaves are nearly eliptical, ribbed, and entire; the upper leaves stand in pairs, sheathlike, they are concave, pointed, ribbed, and embrace the stem, enclosing the flowers; the flowers are large, purple, and stand in whorls, upon short peduncles,; the calyx opens lengthwise, and falls off late in the autumn; the corolla is bell-shaped, purplish, plicated, and divided at the limb into five ovate dotted segments; the filaments are most usually five, about the length of the germen, and furnished with long, erect, tapering anthers; the germen is oblong; the style is cleft with reflexed points, and furnished with a blunt stigma; the capsule is ovate, two-celled, and contains numerous small seeds.

This species of gentian is a native of the Alps, and was first introduced into England for cultivation by Professor de Saussure in the year 1768, since which time it has found its way into France, Spain, and some parts of the United States, Rafensque says it is